Collection and Separation of Packaging Waste

What is Packaging Waste?

Packaging is a valuable material that protects the product inside in the best way according to the structure and shape of the product, ensures it remains clean, facilitates its transport, and also promotes the product. Packaging processes are applied to facilitate the transport of a product and to protect the product from deformation. Materials used in wrapping and similar processes after the use of a purchased product are defined as packaging, and the resulting materials after the use of the product are called packaging waste.

What is Packaging Waste Collection?

Packaging waste generated at homes or workplaces should be collected separately from hazardous and organic waste. Collected packaging wastes are picked up from the waste producer's facility by companies authorized by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and transported to packaging waste collection/separation facilities. At the packaging waste collection/separation facilities, the incoming packaging wastes are separated according to their type and category.

The packaging waste collection/separation process constitutes the most important and first link of recovery.

What is Packaging Waste Separation?

It is the process of separating mixed packaging waste accepted into the facility into types such as glass, metal, cardboard, plastic, paper, etc. The packaging waste separation process can only be carried out by firms authorized by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (holding the Environmental Permit and License Certificate).

Separated packaging wastes are pressed according to their types and sent to metal recycling, paper production (recycling),glass recycling, and plastic recycling factories to ensure recycling.

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When is the Packaging Waste Declaration Made?

There are 4 types of declarations related to packaging waste.

1. Declaration made by packaging producers: This declaration should be made through the Packaging Information System application, which is monitored by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, by the end of March every year for the amount of packaging produced in the previous year.
2. Declaration made by those who put packaging on the market:** This declaration should be made through the Packaging Information System application, which is monitored by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning, by the end of March every year for the amount of packaging put on the market in the previous year.
3. Declaration made by packaging waste collection/separation facilities:** This declaration is made monthly through the Packaging Information System application by packaging waste collection/separation facilities that are authorized by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning (holding an Environmental Permit and License Certificate). The data entered into the declaration system is for the amounts of packaging accepted to the facility, separated, and sent to recycling facilities.
4. Declaration made by packaging waste recycling facilities:** This declaration is made monthly through the Packaging Information System application by recycling facilities authorized by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning (holding an Environmental Permit and License Certificate) for the packaging waste that is accepted to the facility and for which the recycling process is completed.

Click here for the Packaging Information System.

What is Source Separation?

In homes and industrial facilities, hazardous/non-hazardous, packaging, and organic types of waste are generated. Recycling and disposal processes are carried out specifically for each type of waste. Therefore, separating wastes by their types at the moment of their creation and collecting them separately is important for recycling and disposal. The process of separating wastes by their types at the moment of their creation is defined as source separation.

Collection Methods Used in Source Separation Practices

Two methods can be applied for source separation:

1- Dual System:

In this application method, wastes are separated into industrial, packaging, and organic characteristics, and packaging wastes are further separated by their types (plastic, paper, metal, etc.).

2- Triple System:

In this application method, wastes are classified as packaging waste, organic waste, and other waste. Packaging wastes are collected mixed together.

Packaging Waste Control Regulation

The Packaging Waste Control Regulation has been prepared with the aim of preventing the generation of packaging waste, reducing the amount to be disposed of through reuse, recycling, and recovery methods for unavoidable packaging waste, preventing its direct and indirect release into the environment in a harmful manner, and establishing technical and administrative standards related to separate collection at the source, collection, transportation, separation, and recycling within a specific management system. The regulation is in force with the Official Gazette dated 27.12.2017 and numbered 30283.

Click here for the Packaging Waste Control Regulation.